In just four days, the dynamics of the Porsche car scandal in Pune have shifted dramatically. Initially given conditional bail on Sunday, the juvenile defendant saw their bail revoked come Wednesday, when the court also sent the alleged perpetrator's father, Vishal Agrawal, into police custody for two days.
The Juvenile Justice Board has ordered the underage accused to the Yerwada Juvenile Home until June 5th. Here, more than thirty juveniles reside, and a psychological assessment of the defendant will be conducted during their stay.
Meanwhile, the defendant's lawyer, Prashant Patil, clarifies to news agencies that the Justice Board did not revoke bail but modified its previous decision. According to him, revocation would imply taking the minor into custody, whereas the board instead opted for sending them to the correctional home.
How much has the case changed in 4 days?
- The Accident:
In the early morning of May 19th, the underage driver of the Porsche car collided with motorcyclists Aneesh Avadhia and Ashwini Costa from behind, leading to their immediate death. Allegedly under the influence at the time, the juvenile was returning from a party. The accident occurred in Pune's Kalyani Nagar area.
- Arrests and Bail:
The same day witnessed police apprehending the underage driver—a 17-year-old. The juvenile justice system granted him bail on conditions which included writing a 300-word essay and visiting RTO to understand traffic rules.
- The Father's Arrest:
As public outrage escalated, authorities sprang into action, arresting the minor's father, Vishal Agrawal. Additional arrests included two hotel Black Club employees, Nitesh Shevani and Jayesh Gavakar. Preliminary inquiries suggest the juvenile had consumed alcohol prior to the incident. Police are holding all three in custody until May 24th.
- Bail Revoked for the Minor:
On May 22nd, the juvenile faced another hearing. His bail was revoked and he was sent to the Yerwada Juvenile Home until June 5th.
Keep in mind that, beyond these details, if there's an urge to delve deeper and catch up on more such disheartening events from the lanes of Pune, you can
Source: aajtak
What's been uncovered so far?
Investigations reveal that hours before the mishap, the juvenile consumed alcohol. He spent around 48 thousand rupees at the bar that night. At 3:15 AM, driving the Porsche recklessly, he struck Aneesh Avadhia and Ashwini Costa, who were on a bike, causing their instant fatalities. The car subsequently smashed into railings.
The case has been registered under IPC Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 304A (causing death by negligence), 279 (rash driving), and various sections of the Motor Vehicle Act. Furthermore, charges under Juvenile Justice Act Sections 75 and 77 are leveled against the minor's father and hotel-bar manager, relating to cruelty to children and providing intoxicants to minors, respectively.
What's next in the chain of events? Vishal Agrawal, the accused's father, will remain in police custody till May 24th, facing interrogation over his alleged awareness of his son's missing valid driving license and drinking habits. Meanwhile, the juvenile will remain in the correctional home till June 5th, where he will undergo a psychological evaluation. Mental health professionals will be present to ensure his well-being.
Pune's Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar states there are no orders as of now on trying the juvenile as an adult. The lawyer, Prashant Patil, anticipates at least two months for the process since psychiatric assessments and counselors' reports are needed to try a juvenile as an adult.
